Definition of Terms

Herbal medicine

A plant-derived material or preparation with therapeutic or other human health benefits which contains either raw or processed ingredients from one or more plants. In some traditions materials of inorganic or animal origin may also be present.

Characterizing compound

A natural constituent of a plant part that may be used to assure the identity or quality of a plant preparation, but is not necessarily responsible for the plant’s biological or therapeutic activity.

Biological activity

A change in the base-line function of an animal or part of an animal brought about by the administration of a test substance.

Therapeutic activity

An intervention that results in the amelioration of the manifestations of human disease.

Processed plant materials

Plant materials treated according to traditional procedures to improve their safety and/or efficacy, to facilitate their clinical use, or to make medicinal preparations.

Medicinal preparations of plant materials

Medicinal preparations that contain one or more of the following: powdered plant materials, extracts, purified extracts, or partially purified active substances isolated from plant materials. In certain cases, materials of animal or mineral origin may also be included in such preparations.